Justice League has Massachusetts covered

Thursday

Feb 21, 2013 at 3:00 PMFeb 21, 2013 at 3:06 PM

DC Comics wants you to know that its new title, “Justice League of America,” is an all-American affair … and they’re doing so by issuing 52 variant covers, each one featuring the heroes hoisting the official flags of each state in the union, along with Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, in homage to the famous image of Iwo Jima.

The comic, which was released Wednesday, is a spinoff of the publisher’s “Justice League,” which features Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. “Justice League of America” mostly features lesser-known characters, although some — Green Arrow, Hawkman, Catwoman, the Martian Manhunter — are fan favorites.

These sorts of gimmicks are nothing new to comic fans, as “collector” and “variant” covers have been a staple of the genre since the 1990s. But is anyone still buying?

Kevin McKeon, the comic buyer at That’s Entertainment in Worcester, says they are.

“We ordered multiples of all the flags in New England,” he says, “because we get people from Rhode Island, New Hampshire. So we’re pretty well represented of the surrounding states.” He says the store also ordered smaller numbers of other states, “for the completists out there who want all of the states.”

Still, it’s not as exciting a gimmick as when the comic book publisher IDW issued variant covers of “Godzilla” a while back, with each variant showing the monolithic radioactive reptile smashing a different comic book store … including That’s Entertainment.

“That one they absolutely love,” said McKeon. “We still have copies, and it still sells, because it has our shop on it. People are really into that. It’s their store. People just like to see that. They think it’s really cool.”

But, hey. It may be no Godzilla rampage, but it’s nice to know the DC superheroes have the Bay State’s back. (Victor D. Infante)